LONDON — Former England captain Alec Stewart has thrown his considerable weight behind the national team's contentious decision to forgo a traditional warm-up match ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia, describing the move as a calculated and justified strategy to "stick to their guns." The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the itinerary, which includes only a single, internal three-day practice session in Canberra before the First Test in Brisbane, a departure from the long-standing tradition of multi-day fixtures against state sides.
A Calculated Departure from Tradition
The announcement has sparked debate among pundits and former players, with critics arguing that denying players the opportunity to acclimatize to Australian conditions in a competitive, first-class setting is a significant gamble. However, Stewart, a veteran of three Ashes tours Down Under, believes the modern schedule and the specific needs of the current squad validate the bold call. "I understand why people are questioning it, but the game has changed," Stewart stated in an exclusive interview. "The days of month-long tours with multiple games against state teams are gone. This is about precision preparation, not volume."
Stewart pointed to the intense, condensed nature of the international calendar, which sees England's Test stars arriving directly from a packed home summer and a potential white-ball series elsewhere. He argued that a truncated, high-intensity training camp, focused on replicating Gabba conditions at the Manuka Oval facility in Canberra, could be more beneficial than a scattered series of tour matches. "It's about quality of practice over quantity of matches," he emphasized.
Learning from the Past: The 2021-23 Blueprint
The strategy is not without precedent. England's most recent Ashes campaign in 2021-22 under Joe Root was heavily criticized for its inadequate preparation, which featured just a single proper warm-up game against a weakened England Lions side. The team was comprehensively outplayed, losing the series 4-0. Stewart believes the current management, led by Director of Cricket Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum, has learned from those mistakes but is refining the approach rather than simply reverting to the old model. "They've analysed what went wrong last time and are trying to fix it with a modern solution," he explained.
The internal squad game in Canberra is planned to be a highly competitive, match-simulated scenario with pink balls to prepare for the day-night Test in Adelaide. The key benefits touted by the ECB include:
- Controlled exposure to specific Australian conditions (pace, bounce, Kookaburra ball).
- The ability to manage workloads and minimize injury risk for key fast bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
- Focusing on specific technical and tactical plans without the scrutiny of a full public fixture.
The "Bazball" Factor and Player Confidence
A significant element in this decision is the unwavering confidence of the current England setup, forged under the aggressive 'Bazball' philosophy. Stewart, who played 133 Tests, believes this self-belief is crucial. "This England team doesn't need two weeks to find their game," he asserted. "They know how they want to play. This camp is about fine-tuning, not soul-searching. They are backing their method, and I admire that. You have to stick to your guns in Australia, or they'll smell weakness."
He contrasted this with teams of the past, who sometimes arrived with confused strategies. "When you go to Australia, you have to be clear in your mind and strong in your conviction. If you start doubting your plans after one bad session, you're finished. This preparation model reinforces their identity from day one." The focus will be on empowering players like Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Harry Brook to play their natural, attacking games without a prolonged period of adjustment against lesser opposition.
The Australian Perspective
Unsurprisingly, the reaction in Australia has been one of bemusement and quiet confidence. Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson questioned the logic, suggesting it plays into the home team's hands. "It's a bold move, Cotton, let's see if it pays off," he quipped on a podcast, referencing the film *Dodgeball*. "Our batters will be facing a full-strength Shield season. To think you can rock up and just hit the ground running at the Gabba is a big ask, no matter how you've been playing."
Current Australian captain Pat Cummins offered a more diplomatic view but subtly highlighted the advantage his side holds. "Every team prepares differently. We know we'll be battle-hardened from our domestic cricket. The Gabba is a fortress for a reason, and we'll be ready." This sentiment underscores the high-stakes gamble England is taking, banking on their unique preparation to overcome Australia's inherent home advantage.
Stewart's Unwavering Backing
Despite the external noise, Stewart remains a firm believer in the plan. He concluded with a message of strong support for the team and management. "It's easy to criticise from the outside, but Rob Key, Brendon McCullum, and Ben Stokes have earned the right to be trusted. They've transformed the Test team with their methods. This is a continuation of that."
He acknowledged the risk but framed it as a necessary one for a team looking to make history. England's last Ashes victory in Australia was in 2010-11. "To win in Australia, you can't do the same thing everyone else has done and failed with. You have to be bold. This is bold. I'm backing them to make it work." The cricketing world will now watch with bated breath to see if this modern approach to one of sport's oldest rivalries will yield a famous victory or serve as a cautionary tale.